SCO - National Organization of Social Security Claimants ...

APPENDIX A
Using Selected Characteristics for
Occupational Exploration
Data in the Selected Characteristics of Occupations
(SCO) may be used in a variety of ways to supplement
data associated with the 12,741 occupations defined in
the revised fourth edition Dictionary of Occupational Titles
(DOT). The Dictionary contains occupations arranged
according to similarities, such as tasks the worker
must perform or knowledge the worker must have. The
SCO provides lists of occupations arranged by similar
Worker Characteristics required of an individual to fit a
specific job-worker situation.
Based on data obtained and evaluated during job analysis
studies to develop the revised DOT, analysts modified
and prepared information for a significant number of occupations.
Many of these had been published previously
in the Dictionary; some had not. In addition, analysts revised
their method of reporting ratings for clusters of
Physical Demand (PD) and Environmental Condition
(EC) components to reporting ratings for individual
components.
The Dictionary provides information on the typical tasks
of an occupation. Some users find it difficult to extract
information that may appear to be implied about Worker
Characteristics from the more explicit information about
tasks. This publication provides users a means to access
the Worker Characteristic ratings of Specific Vocational
Preparation (SVP) as well as individual PD and EC ratings
for all occupations defined in the Dictionary.
Use of these data with those contained in the Dictionary
will permit better interpretation and evaluation of job
characteristics for a wide range of occupations requiring
similar adaptabilities and capabilities. Use of this supplement
with the Dictionary can promote a better understanding
of the relationships and/or differences among
A-I
occupations and provide transfer possibilities from one
occupation to another.
Among other uses, the data provides reference materials
helpful in determining the potential transferability of impaired
or physically handicapped individuals from one
occupation to another while permitting them to retain
their fullest possible application of experience and remaining
functional capacity. In addition, it may also be
useful in informing applicants for employment of occupations
suited to the skills acquired on previous jobs;
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